Rewrite Our Love? Too Late-Chapter 126: Above the Clouds, Beneath the Heart

The wait in the airport lounge didn't last long before their flight to Hokkaido was announced for boarding. Thanks to Yukima Azuma's early preparations, the group had first-class tickets, allowing them to board ahead of the crowd through a priority gate.

The spacious first-class cabin offered a luxury the group rarely experienced—wide reclining seats, plush footrests, and private partitions that could slide up to form miniature suites. Yet, rather than seeking solitude, they all chose to sit together in a cluster, the warmth of companionship more inviting than personal comfort.

After a final wave and goodbye to her mother, Eriri silenced her phone and tucked it away.

Beside her, Kato Megumi pulled a compact camera from her backpack.

"Kato-san, you're so well-prepared. I totally forgot about bringing one!" Eriri pouted with mild envy. She could already imagine how many candid shots she was missing out on.

"My sister stuffed it in my bag," Megumi replied with a small smile.

The camera had been a surprise gift from her older sister, Kato Hiromi. Upon learning that Megumi was heading to Hokkaido with club friends, Hiromi had disappeared into her room and returned minutes later, brandishing a neatly packed camera with a fresh memory card.

"Take lots of pictures, yeah? I need ideas for my future honeymoon," she'd said with a teasing grin. "And maybe snap a few cute portraits too."

Megumi, used to her sister's playful jabs, had accepted it wordlessly—but inwardly, she was thankful. The camera had already proven its worth.

Just then, Yukima Azuma sat near the window, resting his cheek against one hand, fingers lightly tapping the sill. Outside, the plane had already taken off. A stretch of soft clouds and a golden skyline unfurled behind him.

Without hesitation, Megumi powered on the camera, adjusted the focus toward Azuma's serene profile, and clicked the shutter.

Eriri's eyes sparkled with realization. "Tch—why didn't I think of that?!" she whispered bitterly, regretting not bringing her own camera.

Kasumigaoka Utaha leaned slightly toward Megumi, her gaze gliding over the digital screen. After a moment's pause, she murmured into Megumi's ear, "Send that to me when we land?"

Megumi responded with a casual "OK" hand sign.

As the aircraft climbed higher, the skies shifted from cerulean blue to a cotton sea of clouds below. Once the plane pierced through the upper atmosphere and leveled out, the cabin light dimmed, replaced by the gentle warmth of the sunlight streaming in.

A flight attendant soon arrived, offering the first-class menu with a bright, polished smile. Though the drink list included luxurious options like vintage champagne, the group collectively passed—it was illegal for anyone under twenty to consume alcohol in Japan.

Yukima settled for iced tea. Megumi requested orange juice. Utaha, true to form, opted for black tea.

As for Eriri?

Well, her drink was deemed too trivial to be noted. Not that anyone asked her.

Instead of a full meal, the group ordered a few light sweets—fruit-filled mochi, delicate and glistening like little edible jewels.

"So... are we going out tonight?" Megumi asked, her tone casual but clearly interested.

"Definitely! Tanuki Koji Shopping Street is famous for its night vibes—it's practically a pilgrimage site for shoppers. And afterward... ramen!" Eriri's eyes lit up with excitement. "Hokkaido is the birthplace of miso ramen! It's going to be heavenly!"

Any earlier sulking Eriri had done over missing a potential private date with Azuma had completely vanished. Now, she resembled an excited elementary schooler on a class trip, grabbing Megumi's arm and bouncing in her seat as she rattled off a list of places she wanted to visit.

If Utaha weren't always teasing her, Eriri might have even pulled her into the conversation too.

Across from them, Kasumigaoka reached out and lightly tapped Azuma's cheek.

"What are you thinking about?" she asked softly.

Azuma turned slightly, nodding toward the sky beyond the window. "Comets," he murmured. "If one happened to streak by right now... it'd be beautiful."

Utaha followed his gaze. The sunlight washed the clouds below in hues of pearlescent white and subtle gold. The thought of a vibrant comet painting a trail across that serene expanse stirred something in her chest.

"Yes..." she agreed quietly. "It really would be."

COUGH! COUGH!

Suddenly, Eriri doubled over, coughing violently. A faint puff of green dust escaped her mouth, and her tongue stuck out, now dyed an alarming shade of green.

Azuma blinked.

Then looked at the matcha mochi on the table.

Ah. Mystery solved. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

The bitter matcha coating had struck.

"Baka," Utaha said with a sigh, handing over a tissue as Eriri struggled to contain the green powder bursting from her nose.

Azuma reached over and gently patted Eriri's back, trying not to laugh.

Megumi calmly passed her lemon tea to Eriri, who gratefully took a sip.

Once she recovered, albeit embarrassed, she headed to the restroom to fix her makeup.

When she returned, she eyed the remaining mochi on her tray.

Not one to waste food, she glared at the enemy—and took another bite.

This time, the bitterness didn't physically choke her, but her face crinkled up like a wrinkled napkin.

"Is... is it tasty?" she asked, eyeing the pink strawberry mochi in Megumi's hand.

Megumi nodded. "Not bad. Not Yukima-grade... but still good."

Eriri snatched a strawberry mochi and began munching happily.

Azuma watched them with growing curiosity. Then, almost unconsciously, he rested his chin on his hand, opened his mouth slightly, and leaned in toward Megumi.

"Ah—"

Megumi paused, blinking.

Then, without a word, she raised her remaining mochi and gently fed him.

He took a bite. "Umu. Not bad."

CLINK.

The fork in Eriri's hand slipped from her fingers and dropped into her bowl.

"F-Feeding?! That's like—an indirect kiss!" she sputtered. "How are you guys so familiar with this already?!"

Azuma froze. Then sighed.

Ah. Right. He'd grown too used to Kurokawa Akane feeding him like a child. Meals prepared. Clothes laid out.

'Damn. I've been spoiled.'

"Ahem. This is... normal," he muttered, clearly trying to save face.

"Normal?! What part of this is—"

Before she could finish, Azuma picked up the remaining mochi from her plate and stuffed it into her open mouth.

"Mmmph?!"

"See?" Azuma said, brushing his hands off. "Perfectly normal."

Kasumigaoka smirked, then wordlessly handed him her bowl.

She tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear, leaned forward, and opened her lips in invitation.

Azuma complied, feeding her a bite.

For just a second—only a second—her tongue gently brushed against his thumb.

He blinked. She withdrew, her expression unreadable.

Then, Azuma turned to Megumi.

"Megumi, want some too?"

She hesitated... then leaned forward and bit the final mochi from his fingers.

"Thanks," she murmured, her voice barely audible.

But inwardly, her mind was racing.

Where did this habit of being fed come from?

Not Utaha. Not Eriri. Not Yukinoshita. Kirisu-sensei wasn't around lately, and Kita-san had mentioned Azuma hadn't visited STARRY in days.

Megumi narrowed her eyes slightly.

Someone's been spoiling him.

But who?

"Megumi, your gaze... it's kinda scary," Azuma commented.

"Eh? Is it?" Megumi smiled sweetly. "Maybe it's because... I'm an Assassin."

Her deadpan delivery sent the others into a fit of laughter.

"Kato-san, have you read Fate?"

"A little. I asked Azuma to recommend some good ones."

"Ohhh! Megumi-san, I'll give you a whole list! Cute-girl protagonists, romantic comedies, emotionally intense endings!"

Utaha raised a brow. "How quick of you, Eriri. Changing how you address her the moment you sense a rival approaching."

"AHHH! You brute! What's wrong with being an otaku?! I didn't eat your family's rice!"

Despite the jabs, the laughter didn't stop.

Even without the internet, games, or phones, they were having the time of their lives.

A gentle bump interrupted the mood—the plane had landed.

Azuma turned on his phone.

"Let's go. The person picking us up is already here."

"Wait, you know someone in Hokkaido?" Eriri asked, blinking.

Azuma shook his head. "No. But I hired a local university student with a driver's license to act as our guide and chauffeur."

"I booked us a seaside villa this time—more privacy, better beach access. It'll be a little inconvenient to get into the city center, but I think it's worth it."

The girls exchanged surprised glances.

Once again, Yukima Azuma had thought of everything.

Not just a trip—but a full experience.

And somehow, along the way, he'd made them feel like something more than just clubmates.

Maybe... like something closer.

Something warmer.